The birth of her sister's child stirred a gift Lakyn had never imagined. All it took was one touch of the newborn and she had a vision, one of fire and violence. A dangerous force sought the child, but why anyone would wish to harm a baby was beyond her. Then there were the dreams, a similar theme of fire, but this time it was she who was trapped, at first by her own fear, and then by a man who barred her path. Her mother suggested perhaps, given how long she had had the dreams, that there was something divine in their nature, something that needed to be understood, and how right she was. Unbeknownst to Lakyn, the world is changing, dark forces have awoken in the west, and most of Theranyn has fallen to Maal, the ruler of Hael, who wishes to force himself into physical form and take their world for his own. Her nephew's birth was a thing of significance, a catalyst, but not in the way anyone had expected.

Holland C. Kirbo has an excellent writing style filled with rich and beautifully descriptive narrative, fantastic world building, and an array of unique and interesting characters forged into their own person by their unique experiences. There is no choice but to be drawn into this fabulous world, and marvel at all within. Rich histories, myths, and attention to detail have all been woven to create this amazing tale, and since A Flame in the Night is the first book in The Legends of Aewyr series, it shows fantastic promise for the rest of the series. This book really made it easy to get excited about fantasy. I loved the complexity, the characters, and the obvious thought and scope that has clearly gone into its writing. I am looking forward to book two.

A Flame in the Night is the first book in The Legends of Aewyr series by Holland C. Kirbo, a compelling entry in a series that will delight fans of young adult and epic fantasy. This is a novel with a phenomenal conflict, involving a dark god, Maal, who is about to conquer realms and kingdoms, subjugating everyone in the land of Aewyr with his ruthless cronies. The immortals, the only ones that the world has depended on for protection, are falling short of what it takes to stop this evil force. But then hope comes in the form of a human being, a young woman called Lakyn Trahearne, who discovers that she has extraordinary powers — and the gods have never blessed anyone with such powers. Follow this character as she struggles — with the help of immortal Reuel — to harness her powers. But can she discover the strengths and limits of her gifts in time to withstand the worse assault from the evil one?

The story is beautifully written and I couldn’t help but fall for the protagonist. The learning journey of the protagonist is interesting and I enjoyed that she is not introduced as already skilled. Her relationship with Reuel is characterized by friction and the interesting thing is that they both feel attracted to each other and, at the same time, they experience a deep sense of distrust. The author uses this relationship to keep readers engaged, arousing their curiosity to discover what will become of the two. The conflict is well developed and the pacing is fast, punctuated by intense action and emotionally charged scenes. A Flame in the Night is a great read, engaging and satisfying. I look forward to the next book in the series.